Cardservice International, iCat in Credit Card Alliance

Cardservice International Inc., an
independent credit card processor of merchant accounts, and iCat Corp., developer of the iCat Commerce Online solution, agreed to offer integrated e-commerce merchant services.

The agreement will simplify how iCat customers obtain a merchant account in order to accept online credit card payments. iCat Commerce Online is a new e-commerce solution that allows any business to build a Web store using only an Internet browser in as little as 30 minutes. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“The iCat and Cardservice e-commerce solution allows merchants to apply for a credit card merchant account 24-hours a day via our online application process,” said Bruce R. Shirey, vice president of the Internet Commerce Group for Cardservice International.

By allowing merchants to accept credit card payments online, Cardservice and iCat are removing one of the barriers to online sales that have traditionally kept small and medium-sized businesses from dealing in e-commerce, the companies said.

iCat Commerce Online, coupled with Cardservice, will help businesses to create fully functional Web stores with up to 10 items at no charge for the life of the store. Larger stores can be created without charge for the first 30 days.

DejaNews, Netcentives, United Parcel Service, C NET, CyberCash, and Submit It! are among 20 or so companies that have signed co-marketing deals with iCat for Commerce Online.

Cardservice International serves more than 100,000 merchants nationwide and processes over 5 million credit and debit transactions monthly.